Xylitol (also known as
xylite,
birch sugar,
koivusokeri)
(
CH2OH(CHOH)3CH2OH) is a
naturally occuring sugar alcohol found in
berries,
fruit,
vegetables and
mushrooms. For example
raspberry,
strawberry,
yellow plum and
endive (as well as
human tissue) contain
xylitol in small amounts. Most
xylitol is
extracted from
birch wood.
Xylitol is slowly and only partially absorbed by the body -- this makes it an excellent sweetener candidate for
diabetics. There are concerns -- see Safety Issues below. Xylitol has been shown to be
anticariogenic (prevent tooth decay), reduce gingivitis (gum disease) in adults and help prevent ear infections.
Chemical Composition
CH2OH
|
HCOH
|
HOCH
|
HCOH
|
CH2OH
History
Discovered almost simultaneously in the late
19th Century by
German and
French chemists,
xylitol
has been used for decades as a
sweetener for
diabetics in
Russia. In
China,
xylitol is used
fairly extensively for medical purposes.
Xylitol-Jenkki, the first xylitol chewing gum in the world, was launched by the Finnish company Leaf in
1975. Today, xylitol can be found in chewing gums (Trident, XyliFresh), toothpaste (Arm & Hammer,
Pepsodent) as well as mouthwashes and candies.
Benefits
Unlike other
sweeteners (
sobritol (
C6H8(OH)6),
fructose
(
C6H12O5) or
glucose
(
C6H12O6), for example),
xylitol has five instead of six
carbon atoms -- most
bacterias in the mouth (including
Streptococcus mutans) are unable to
metabolise it.
Xylitol also stimulates
saliva secretion and raises the
pH (lowers the
acidity) of the
mouth, making it less hospitable to
S. mutans.
Xylitol also inhibits the growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria responsible for ear
infections.
Studies on the effectiveness of
xylitol involved
doses ranging from 4 to 10
grams daily -- this
corresponds to 3 to 8 pieces of
xylitol-
laced chewing gum.
Safety Issues
Xylitol is believed to be safe, although daily
doses higher than 30
grams can cause
stomach discomfort
or
diarrhea. Note that other
sugar alcohols carry the same
caveat -- by order of the
FDA,
products containing a certain amount (that amount which makes it conceivable that 50
grams of
sorbitol or
20
grams of
mannitol may be
ingested in 24 hours) must bear the warning, '
Excess consumption may
have laxative effect'.
Xylitol is classified 'Miscellaneous/Food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued,'
in the FDA's 2001 Investigations Operations Manual, with the comment:
[Provided that an] Amt used is not > that required to produce its intended effect -- May be safely used in
foods for special dietary uses.
Source:
- Xylitol FAQ:
- http://www.xylitol.net/english/faq.cfm
- Xylitol Study (Korean):
- http://www.xylitolstudy.co.kr
- Microhydron.Com:
- http://www.microhydron.com/xylitol.htm
- AccessScience@McGraw-Hill:
- http://www.accessscience.com
- Healing People -- Herbs & Supplements: Xylitol
- http://www.healingpeople.com/hp_html/primapub/pg000288.htm
- United States Food and Drug Administration Web Site:
- http://www.fda.gov
- Health & Healing
- http://www.microhydron.com/xylitol.htm
- Hildebrandt GH, Sparks BS. Maintaining mutans streptococci suppression with xylitol chewing gum. J Am
Dent Assoc. 2000;131:909-916.
- Uhari M, Kontiokari T, Niemela. A novel use of xylitol sugar in preventing acute otitis media.
Pediatrics. 1998;102:879-884.